Expression of MMP-9 and MMP-9 mRNA in Esophageal Carcinoma Its Correlation with Antioncogene p53

Objective: To investigate the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-9 mRNA in the tissue and cell of the esophageal carcinoma and its correlation with invasion,metastasis and p53 of the cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemistry,in situ hybridization,and zymography were used to examine the expression of MMP-9,MMP-9 mRNA,p53. The relationship between the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-9 mRNA and the clinical parameters was analyzed. Results: The positive rate of MMP-9 expression was 82.7% in esophageal carcinoma tissues(62/75). The positive rate of MMP-9 mRNA expression was 72.0% in the esophageal carcinoma tissues(54/75). Compared with normal tissue, it showed obvious difference (P0.01). The expressions of MMP-9 and its mRNA were closely related to invasion,differentiation and lymph nodes status of the esophageal carcinoma. The positive rate of p53 expression was 90.7% (68/75). Compared with normal tissue, it showed significant difference (P0.05). There was statistically significant defference between p53-positive cases of the MMP-9 positive group and p53-positive cases of the MMP-9 negative group(P0.05). There was a positive correlation between the MMP-9 expression and the p53 expression in esophageal carcinoma(r=0.652,P0.01). The various forms of MMP-9(dimeric form-130×10~3,pro-MMP-9-92×10~3 and active-MMP-9-84×10~3) were found in mucosa of surgical up-edge,paracancerous mucoas and cancer lesions. Activity of active-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-9 was significantly higher in the cancer lesions than in the paracancerous mucosa and the mucosa of surgical up-edge. Conclusion: Esophageal cancer cells have the ability to produce and secret MMP-9 which can promote the invasion and metastasis of the neoplasm.